July 2019 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 13
Tips on prepping your teenager for their first job
By SUZANNE KENNEDY
Do you remember your first
job? I don’t mean babysitting
or lawn mowing; I mean the
first one with a real paycheck
and a W-9 form and every-
thing. I remember mine. I was
really nervous, but so proud to
er- bring home my first real pay-
em check. I was in heaven.
wer. The legal age to start work-
ing in Oregon is 14. That seems
young to me, but it didn’t stop
al my daughter from getting her
s, first summer job.
Preparing a person to enter
ot
not the workforce starts when they
For are young. Parents who give
o their children age-appropriate
t responsibilities and chores
t are giving them a head start
- on future job success. The
fill other thing to consider is not to tie
privileges to age, but to maturity
and dependability. For example,
instead of telling them they can
ed stay home alone when they are ten,
u, you say that they can stay home
the alone when they are responsible
and make safe choices. Finally, help
them understand that work comes
before play. Homework and chores
rd- must be done before playing with
- friends, just like working at a job
will take priority over hanging out
with friends.
You can tell that your teen is
ready for a job when they can listen
and follow directions, and then
stay on task until the job is com-
pleted. Do they complete jobs in
a timely manner? Does your teen
perform quality work or just go
fast to get the job done? This last
item can be taught with chores. I
have one friend who has her kids
es
ver
and
ng
rom
tes-
at
visit
Open late, open Saturday,
here for the whole family!
541-481-7212 • 450 Tatone Street, Boardman, OR 97818
do the same chore for weeks until
they do it thoroughly and correctly
each time, like dishes or laundry.
In my house, we switch out every
week, but they are called back to
complete or redo chores not done
correctly the first time.
When your teen is old enough
and ready to get a job, the next
step is to decide where to apply.
You might think about logistics. Is
there someplace close enough for
your child to walk to or ride her
bike? Perhaps it is appropriate for
them to start where Mom or Dad
works. Is there a business nearby
whose focus interests them? If your
daughter wants to be a vet when
she grows up, look at getting a job
at a vet’s office or with a groomer.
If they are athletic and love the
outdoors, have them check with
the parks and recreation depart-
ment to see if something might
be available. Ask your son to think
about his personality. Jobs that are
active and involve lots of
personal interaction are
great for extroverts. An
office job might be perfect
for someone who is a bit
on the shy side. If they
end up not finding what
they think is the best job
ever, don’t worry. It’ll
make them stretch and
build character. Remind
them that it could always
be worse.
Finally, it’s time to think
about putting together
a beginner’s resume.
Education will be listed
first, with extracurriculars
and GPA, then clubs and
sports. Paid work comes
next. Have your teen
include anything they’ve
been paid for: bucking hay bales,
babysitting, mowing lawns, dog
walking, etc. The third section is for
volunteer work. Have they volun-
teered at a church camp or helped
a neighbor pull weeds? All of these
items show your teen’s work ethic
and character. Don’t forget to in-
clude references. Ask two of the
people for whom they’ve worked if
they would be willing to have their
name and number listed as a refer-
ence on the resume.
There you have it. All that’s left
is to hit the pavement and let your
teen work his or charm on some
unsuspecting employer. And that
means fewer times you’ll have to
hear the dreaded “I’m bored” this
summer!
________
Suzanne Kennedy is a former middle
school teacher who lives in Pend-
leton with her husband and four
children.